Starting a newsletter is one of the best ways to build an audience, promote your brand, and create a long-term relationship with your readers. The best part? You can create, design, send, and grow your newsletter 100% free using modern no-code tools.

This guide will walk you through everything step-by-step—even if you’ve never created a newsletter before.

Why Start a Newsletter?

Newsletters are powerful because:

You own your audience unlike social media followers
Zero cost to start with multiple free platforms
Great for lead generation and building trust
Perfect for bloggers, creators, marketers, and businesses
Boosts traffic, engagement, and conversions

If you want consistent, predictable growth, a newsletter is the most reliable digital asset you can build.

Step-by-Step Guide to Start a Newsletter Using Completely Free Tools

Step 1: Define Your Newsletter Purpose

Before choosing a tool or writing content, decide:

What will the newsletter be about?
Who is your target audience?
What problem will you solve?
How frequently will you send issues? (daily, weekly, monthly)

Examples of newsletter niches:

AI and Tech Updates
Personal Finance Tips
Marketing & Business Growth
Fitness & Wellness
Productivity & Habits
Startup Insights
News & Trending Topics

Having a clear direction helps you write consistently.

Step 2: Choose a Free Newsletter Platform

There are multiple free tools that let you launch a professional newsletter without paying anything.

1. Substack (Best for Beginners & Writers)

Completely free to start
Clean UI & blog + newsletter combo
Free hosting
No limits on subscribers
Built-in discovery for more readers

2. Mailchimp Free Plan (Best for Businesses)

Drag-and-drop email builder
Forms, automation, simple CRM
Good for small businesses and eCommerce
Free for up to 500 contacts

3. MailerLite Free Plan (Simple & Modern)

Beautiful templates
Landing pages
Segmentation & automation
Free for 1,000 subscribers

4. Beehiiv Free Plan (Best for Growth & Referrals)

Strong analytics
Magic link subscriptions
Referral program
Blog + newsletter builder

5. ConvertKit Free Plan (Creator-friendly)

Ideal for creators, coaches, and educators
Beautiful email designs
Free for 1,000 subscribers

All platforms require no coding, and you can create your newsletter in minutes.

Step 3: Create Your Newsletter Sign-Up Form

A sign-up or subscription form is essential because that’s how people join your email list.

You can embed forms using:

Substack’s subscribe box
Mailchimp signup forms
MailerLite popups
ConvertKit landing pages

Make sure your form clearly explains:
✔ What subscribers will receive
✔ How frequently you’ll email them
✔ Why they should join

Example:
“Join 3,000+ readers who get weekly AI tools, tips, and automation hacks.”

Step 4: Set Up a Free Landing Page

Most newsletter platforms allow you to create a landing page for free.

Use it to highlight:

Newsletter benefits
What makes you unique
Sample newsletter topics
Signup form

Tools that offer free landing pages:

Substack
Beehiiv
ConvertKit
MailerLite
Notion + Potion (simple free workaround)

A good landing page increases subscribers quickly.

Step 5: Design Your Newsletter (No Design Skills Required)

Use drag-and-drop email builders provided in free plans.

Design tips:

Use simple clean layouts
Add a header and logo
Use readable fonts
Add visuals or icons if needed
Keep mobile-first design in mind

You can also create custom graphics for free using Canva or Adobe Express.

Step 6: Write Your First Newsletter Issue

Your first issue should be simple and welcoming.
Include:

1. A short introduction

Explain who you are and why the subscriber will benefit.

2. Valuable content

Share tips, updates, resources, insights, or curated links.

3. Clear call-to-action

Ask readers to:

Reply
Share your newsletter
Follow on social media
Visit your website

4. Clean closing

Sign off with your name and optional signature section.

Step 7: Create a Consistent Publishing Schedule

Consistency matters more than frequency.

Choose a schedule you can maintain:

Weekly
Bi-weekly
Monthly

Use tools like:

Google Calendar
Notion
Trello
ClickUp

to plan your content.

Step 8: Grow Your Newsletter Audience for Free

Here are the best free growth strategies:

1. Share on Social Media

LinkedIn, Instagram, Twitter/X, Facebook, Pinterest.

2. Add Signup Form on Your Website or Blog

Use a popup or sidebar box.

3. Offer a Freebie (Optional but Powerful)

Examples:

eBook
Checklist
PDF guide
Templates

4. Collaborate with Other Creators

Newsletter swaps or guest posts.

5. Use AI Tools

Create shareable content quickly using ChatGPT.

6. Add ‘Magic Link’ (Beehiiv, Substack)

A single click auto-subscribes users.

Step 9: Analyze Your Results

All free tools provide analytics like:

Open rate
Click-through rate
Subscriber growth
Top performing posts

Use this data to improve your next issues.

Conclusion

Starting a newsletter has never been easier—thanks to modern free tools that let you design, send, and grow your audience without spending money.

With platforms like Substack, Beehiiv, Mailchimp, and ConvertKit, you can launch a fully functional newsletter in under an hour—no coding, no design skills, and no budget required.

Focus on providing value, staying consistent, and promoting your newsletter regularly. If you do that, you’ll build a strong, loyal audience over time.